New Orleans Saints safety Jairus Byrd has back surgery

Sean Payton said Byrd will return next week

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton announced Thursday that safety Jairus Byrd has had surgery on his back and will return to the team in a week.

Payton, speaking after the team's first OTA that was open to the media, said the surgery "didn't need to be done" but that Byrd and the team both thought it best to get it cleared up now. Payton said if Byrd was having the same issue during the season he would have just received treatment rather than having surgery.